Boy Struck in Swansea

09

Mar

Boy Struck in Swansea

A Boston Herald article is reporting that a boy was struck while riding his bike along Bark Street in Swansea around 3pm this afternoon. The boy was rushed to Hasbro. No additional information has yet to be released.

UPDATE: a WPRI article has now released word that an eyewitness saw the boy dart out onto the road in front of the car.

Our thoughts go out to the the boy, his parents, and the driver of the automobile. Yet another incident between a bicycle and automobile in our “local” area.

7 thoughts on - Boy Struck in Swansea

Police and witnesses say the 15-year old rode his bike into oncoming traffic on Bark Street in Swansea.

Police say drivers never saw him coming and some witnesses have told police he was wearing headphones at the time.

A friend of the victim, Matthew Sousa, tells WBZ-TV he was looking out the window and saw his friend coming down the street. "He wasn't going too fast. He could have stopped, but he didn't look both ways."

Police say the teen hit a car, flew over and hit the windshield, then was propelled into the path of an oncoming school bus that struck him as well.

Deputy police Chief Robert Furtado says drivers could not have reacted quickly enough.

The driver of the car, Grace Santos, is described as an elderly woman who was so distraught she had to be hospitalized as well.

Note to all us parents out there… make sure we spend time working with our kids, even our older kids, and make sure they know how to ride safely and responsibly.

Labann

Mar 10, 2010 at 1:52 pm

I'm out there almost every day. I guarantee that both motorists, like about 80%, were driving too fast. They are supposed to ANTICIPATE dogs, kids, joggers, road workers at any time. Why is it that motorists deny any blame? You should be educating THEM. Highway speeds end on the exit ramps, folks. It's 25 mph MAX unless otherwise posted.

I'm all for laying blame at a motorists feet when it's justified, but from what I've read, I don't think a) the motorist was driving irresponsibly or b) there is much they could have done.

We cyclists also need to take responsibility for our actions. Accidents will happen, motorists will make mistakes, it's our responsibility to try and anticipate these actions and ride safely. This is a truly sad story, but it sounds like the teen just blew into a roadway and was wearing headphones, so he was likely distracted and most likely couldn't hear anything.

I'm in agreement with you re: the speed people drive around here. What I don't understand is why motorists aren't in an uproar over annual automobile related deaths, much of which could likely be tracked back to speed, running red lights, aggressive driving, etc. Personally, I'm in favor of red light cameras and automated speed ticketing devices. I truly believe the only way to change people's driving behaviors, when it comes to these two activities, is to hurt them in the pocket book. I don't think we have enough police, nor do I think it is a good use of their time, to catch speeders; computers can do just as well.

Labann

Mar 11, 2010 at 10:54 am

If bicyclists don't act responsibly, the only result, from case history, is their own hurt. They can't be effectively controlled, punished, ticketed. Therefore, they can do whatever they want, don't require ANY TRAINING WHATEVER, and get off their backs, why don't you?

Control and train your steel slinging cagers. Fines? Scale them relative to net worth. Revoke and suspend licenses of repeat offenders. Cameras and computers? They are already at a lot of inner city intersections, but it's all to raise $4 million a year in revenue, which hardly pays for installation. The only answer is police in neighborhoods knowing neighborhood DUIs, keeping tabs, watching out. That and better traffic planning, which is generally atrocious in Newport and Providence Counties, I'm sorry to say, even since they've been put on notice by FHWA for over a decade. Who's the scofflaw?

If bicyclists don’t act responsibly, the only result, from case history, is their own hurt.

This is simply not true. If the driver of the automobile and bus in this accident have any morals, which from reading the various articles they certainly seem to, then they have both been wounded by this incident. No, they aren't physically hurt, but physical damage is not the only question here. Someone's life, if they are a truly caring individual, can be ruined by hurting or killing someone else, even if it was an accident.

Yes cyclists are going to loose any sort of physical engagement, but this doesn't remove all responsibility for how we act.

Labann

Mar 12, 2010 at 6:44 am

Who tells the bigger lies? Someone with no vested interest or self proclaimed teachers trying to exert control over others for profit? Bicyclists aren't the root cause of road problems… negligibly contribute to accident statistics.

If motorists had morals, they'd quit motoring. It's killing everyone already, and likely to lead to massive world war according to industry experts.

Nice news blip about how 2009 nationwide traffic fatalities were "only" 33,000, down from high mark just a few years ago of 44,000. Not so RI, up to 88, a 25% increase. Draw no conclusion. Got to consider a spike in oil prices and unemployment as factors nationally, plus never ending construction locally.

Dennis

Mar 12, 2010 at 11:32 am

Bicyclists aren’t the root cause of road problems… true. Lots of factors make up most of these accidents. Some can be laid on the bicyclist, some on the motorist, and more on the State. All we can do is take care of the things we can and understand that we're involved in a risky venture.

If motorists had morals, they’d quit motoring.Well, that's a nice thought but there are some things you actually need a car/ truck for.

So what part of the problem calculation can I affect? I can ride my bicycle responsibly by not wearing headphones, being predictable and setting a good example. I can be involved in local and state government to make the riding conditions safer. I can talk to fellow drivers about what bicycles do on the road and how they are to behave.

And I'll say it again. EDUCATION… for the drivers and for the bicyclist. A few nice PSAs might go a long way to making Rhode Island a safer place to ride.

It might just save a life.

RIBike meets the second Monday of each month from 6-8pm. All are welcome. Check "Events" for location.

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